by Michael Smith


The defense for the Grain Valley football team continues to make strides.

It was a rough start to the season for that side of the ball for the Eagles as they gave up an average of 33.3 points per game during the first three games of the season.

In a Week 4 contest against Platte County, the Eagles made a big jump on defense, holding Platte County to just 238 total yards and forcing three turnovers in a 45-24 victory.

That momentum continued in Friday’s non-conference matchup with Blue Springs South. Grain Valley limited the Jaguars to 335 total yards, including surrendering just 120 on the ground during a 30-20 win at Larry Stewart Memorial Stadium.

“We knew we had to step up because we had big expectations coming in from last game,” Grain Valley junior cornerback Jordan Fuller said.

In the last two games, the defense has held opponents to just 22 points per game. The Eagles were getting consistent pressure on South starting quarterback Ayden Wilhelm and totaled four sacks, three of which came on bad snaps from the Jags.

“Coach (Matt) Curts came to us after that Oak Park game and laid the hammer on us,” Grain Valley senior safety Gabe Storment said. “He held us accountable and that is what led to the success on the field.

“His biggest message was to stop being really good for nine plays and then being really bad on the 10th. We’ve got to be good 100 percent of the time.”

The defense helped keep the Eagles (4-1) afloat in the first half as it only allowed seven points to South in the first 24 minutes. After Ben Drinkwater missed a 35-yard field goal attempt on Grain Valley’s opening possession, South quarterback Ayden Wilhelm took advantage as he hit junior Cameron Sanders in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard scoring pass to go up 7-0.

The Eagles (4-1) responded on the next drive as senior running back Ty Williams had a 46-yard run that set up 10-yard TD jaunt, in which he broke two tackles on his way to pay dirt at the 3:53 mark in the first.

Late in the second half, Fuller intercepted a deep pass over the middle from Wilhelm, making an over-the-shoulder catch, which set up Grain Valley at its own 44-yard line following a personal foul penalty on the Eagles.

“I dropped back and I saw a post coming,” Fuller said. “I just made a good catch.”

A 38-yard reception by Williams from senior quarterback Sal Caldarella allowed Drinkwater the chance at a 48-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half. He made it to put his team up 10-7 going into the break.

Williams continued his breakout season in the second half.

On the Eagles’ first possession, Williams’ 14-yard run on third-and-8 and Caldarella’s 3-yard scamper on fourth-and-2 from the South 16, set up a Williams 4-yard Td run at the 4:24 mark in the third.

After forcing South to punt on its ensuing possession, he caught a swing pass from senior quarterback Sal Caldarella and broke two tackles on his way to a 60-yard TD reception to make it 24-7 with 1:02 left in the third period.

“I like being able to catch the ball, it’s fun,” Williams said. “It’s part of my versatility. If the opposing defense stops me when I am running it, the coaches can put me out there, and I can catch balls.”

Wilhelm’s TD passes of 63 and 13 to senior wide receiver Caysen Stevenson was sandwiched around a Williams 54-yard scoring run with 3:56 left that gave Grain Valley enough cushion to come away with a double-digit win.

After the game, Williams credited some of his success to the defense.

“It’s been huge,” Williams said of the defense’s improvement. “They have been taking pressure off me and the whole offense. They are out there working their butts off.”

Williams powered the offense once again as he finished with 235 rushing on 25 carries and caught four passes for 125 and totaled four TDs. The senior now has 1,102 yards and 16 TDs on the ground, averaging 220.4 yards per game.

“The offense continues to do a great job blocking and our quarterback (Sal Caldarella) continues to make the right reads,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said. “Ty did a great job catching it and running with it.”

Caldarella, who utilized a bevy of single-read, quick throws, completed 15 of 26 passes for 179 yards and a score. He was able to do that because of South’s cornerback playing 5-plus yards off of Grain Valley’s receivers.

​“We throw to grass,” Allie said of the quick throws. “If you give us that much space, we’re going to take it. If we get five yards, that’s a great play.”

Fox 4 morning news reporter and author Matt Stewart will be the guest speaker at the Grain Valley Historical Society's September 28th meeting. The meeting will begin at 6:30pm at the Historical Society, 506 S Main. The event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.

Stewart has written several books, including his most recent book, "Unique eats and eateries of Kansas City". 

For more information on the Grain Valley Historical Society, visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com. 

Blue Compass RV, formerly Lifestyle RVs of Grain Valley, celebrated its brand rollout with a ribbon cutting on September 19th. Lifestyle RVs was the 31st dealership purchased by RVR (RV Retailers) in October 2020. The Grain Valley company celebrated its rebranding with a ribbon cutting celebration and a flyover on the 19th. 

Blue Compass was named to the Inc. 5000 annual list of the fastest growing private companies in America. 

Blue Compass RV is located at 1100 NW Pamela Drive, Grain Valley. For more information, visit www.bluecompassrv.com. 

On Friday, September 15, middle schoolers at Grain Valley North Middle School learned about financial literacy with Million Bazillion Live! “Who Wants to be a Bazillionaire?” Based on the Webby-winning kids’ podcast Million Bazillion from Marketplace and presented by Greenlight, Million Bazillion Live! brings financial knowledge and empowerment to middle school students.

American Public Media’s® (APM) Marketplace®, the most widely consumed business and economic news programming in the country, partnered with Greenlight® Financial Technology, Inc. (Greenlight), the fintech company on a mission to help parents raise financially smart kids, to launch this dynamic financial literacy tour, Million Bazillion Live! “Who Wants to be a Bazillionaire?”

Presented in a fun, entertaining game show format, Million Bazillion Live! is an immersive experience with personal finance trivia, challenges, and prizes. During the tour, students will cheer on their classmates while learning about real money matters such as budgeting, saving, and investing.

To learn more, visit millionbazillionlive.com.

​by Michael Smith


Fatigue may have set in for the Grain Valley volleyball team.

The Eagles played their eighth game in four days as they took on Raymore-Peculiar Tuesday at home. On Monday, they played St. Michael The Archangel Catholic. Two days before that, the Eagles competed in six games during the Winnetonka Invitational Saturday.

Grain Valley was competitive with the Panthers in the first, but the second and third sets got away from the Eagles as they fell 26-28, 16-25, 17-25.

The Eagles had trouble getting past the defense of the Panthers as players like Abigail Ogren, Isabel Bowen and Addison Findley had several blocks that prevented Grain Valley from getting spike to land on the other side of the net.

The defense for Grain Valley was also not to the liking of head coach Tori Squiers, who said her team had an “off night.”

“Where we hurt a lot tonight was defensively,” Squiers said. “They got to play a lot of offense on us. It was hard to come back from that.

“It was an off night for a lot of girls. Some of our strong defensive players like Isabella West and Haylie Jennings didn’t maybe have their strongest game today. They came off a big weekend where they won the Winnetonka Tournament.”

Grain Valley trailed 23-21 late in the first set but came back to tie it at 25-all after going on a 4-2 run capped by a kill from  junior Kayla Gallagher. However, the Panthers got back-to-back kills from senior Kayla Starkey to end a 3-1 run and help her team take the first set by two points.

The Eagles took an early 5-3 lead in the second set following a kill from Gallagher, but Ray-Pec took over from there and outscored the Eagles 22-14 the rest of the way. Grain Valley struggled to connect on passes, while Ray-Pec continued to put up a big block at the net and Bowen powered the Panthers offense with five kills and an ace.

The home team also led 8-7 early in the third thanks to a kill from senior Isabella West, but Ray-Pec took the lead and slowly pulled away due to strong play at the net and unforced errors from Grain Valley.

“We have had a lot of tough competition this season,” Squiers said. “Hopefully we can turn things around after a long weekend.

“After the game we talked about chipping away and not giving up. We got ourselves in tough situations in each set and got down five to six points. We just need to be unified and connected as a team.”

Gallagher led the Eagles with 11 kills, senior Megan Davies had seven and Kyleigh Casey had five. Davies also had a team-high four blocks.

As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, now is a good time to prepare a home for the coming colder months – and add a little seasonal beauty too. Westlake Ace Hardware offers these nine essential tips to help transition any home smoothly into the months ahead.

INSIDE YOUR HOME:

• Change Furnace Filters – Changing your furnace filters regularly isn't just about maintaining good indoor air quality; it can also lead to significant cost savings. When your furnace filter is clogged with dirt, dust, and debris, your heating system has to work harder to push air through, which can result in higher energy consumption and, consequently, increased utility bills.
• Fire Prevention Month – October is National Fire Prevention Month. Take this opportunity to change the batteries in all your smoke detectors. It's a small action that can make a big difference in keeping your family safe.
• Keep Rodents Out – As the weather cools, rodents may seek refuge in your home. Seal any cracks or gaps in your home's foundation, doors, and windows to prevent unwanted guests. Consider placing traps or deterrents in areas prone to infestations.

OUTSIDE YOUR HOME:

• Get Your Lawn in Shape – After a long, hot summer, lawns are very hungry right now, so start by fertilizing to ensure your grass greens up nicely come spring. Make three applications of high-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer like Scotts Turf Builder Fall Lawn Food between September and late November.
• Trim Plants and Clear Leaves – Tidy up your outdoor landscaping by pruning any dead or overgrown plants in your garden. It’s also a good idea to stock up on lawn bags to prepare for the multitude of fallen leaves. To minimize the number of lawn bags you’ll need, gather leaves into piles and mulch them with a mower. You can also use mulched leaves as protection around perennial plants during chilly weather.
• Prep for Colder Temperatures – As temperatures drop, remember to drain and disconnect rain barrels and hoses to prevent freezing. If you have potted plants, consider bringing them indoors to protect them from cold nights and apply an insecticide to prevent unwanted pests from hitching a ride inside.

BEAUTIFY AND ENJOY THE SEASON:

• Invest in a Fire Pit – Today’s fire pits come in a wide range of styles and sizes. Whether you prefer a modern, sleek design, or a rustic, traditional look, there’s a fire pit to suit your taste. Some models like the Solo Stove, are known for their efficient and smokeless design, providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience for gathering with family and friends.
• Swap Out Summer Flowers – Replace your summer annuals with ornamental grasses and colorful mums to add a touch of autumn charm to your outdoor pots and flower beds. For additional impact on your patio or front porch, spray paint several clay pots in rich autumn colors and add mums, pumpkins, kale, and pansies for instant curb appeal.
• Add Outdoor Lighting – With shorter days on the horizon, consider adding outdoor lighting to enhance both the aesthetic and safety of your outdoor space. Hang string lights along a fence, place candles on tables and harness the sun’s light with solar-powered lights.

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society


This week’s article shall begin with the Original Town, Lot 19, a location I knew very well as a child.  The building on Lot 19, which burned on December 9. 1959 was Napier Hardware, a business owed by my parents, Mildred and Charlie Napier. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Lot 19 is a pie shaped piece of land in the half-block that borders the railroad on the northeast side of Main Street.

The first owner of this lot was Mell Hulse It was sold to M. L. Hall on January 20, 1900. And this is where my research has hit a snag. In the Recorders book it appears that  N.T. Webb purchased the land on May 21, 1909 and the Warren Webb Mercantile Co. purchased Lot 19 and the building on November 16, 1910. However, I have a photograph of the Warren Webb Hardware dated 1902. I suppose 120 years later, it doesn’t really matter, but it is curious.

The lot and building were sold to W. H. Loring  on June 7, 1916 and for the next 50 years, it was known as Loring Hardware. When Mr. Loring died the title was transferred to his wife, Ada Loring. For many years following his death, Loring Hardware was managed by Abner Hanes and later Cecil Poage. My parents bought the business in 1949. However, it must have been bought with a mortgage because the title transfer did not occur until May 29, 1956. That would also explain why the name change didn’t occur until that time. I never really knew why and I never asked either of my parents. I just remember old Painter Neal, a sign painter who lived “out south” came to town one day and painted Napier Hardware on the large window near the front door. Unfortunately, I have no photographs of my family’s business. Some years after the fire, Hugo Pierce purchased the vacant lot and it 1972 Lot 19 became the property of The Bank of Grain Valley.

The information for Lot 20 is somewhat sketchy. There are only 4 names on the deed prior to 1962; N. Bohin, Ed Williams, W. J. Pratt and Edgar Huff. In 1962, three years after the fire Mary Mollenkamp, granddaughter of the Bank of Grain Valley President, at the time, is listed as the owner and then Model Engineering who also owned Lots 21-24.  Since the fire in 1959 Lot 20, like Lot 19 has only been vacant and a parking lot. Prior to the fire Lot 21 was actually Front Street as shown on the map.

As for the building on Lot 20, during the late 1920s and early 30s, it was one of three small hotels in town. The lower floor sometimes housed a restaurant and rooms where the proprietor might have lived. Outside stairs on the south side of the building led to the second level with as many as 6 or 8 separate rooms.

I do not know when the hotel closed. I do know that gasoline pumps were in front of the building in the 1940 when Mr. Huff ran an auto repair shop there, selling gas out front. When the building burned there were 3 apartments on the second level and the lower floor was vacant. The fire was started in one of the apartments by a sleeping man who fell asleep (more likely passed out) with a lit cigarette. At the time, Grain Valley did not have city water! Many homes and business near the area had roof fires that night. Less than two weeks later a city water bond, which had failed for years, passed with only 3 NO votes.
 
Next week learn about the remaining 18 lots, part of the Downtown Grain Valley revitalization/Missouri Main Street porject.
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